UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to his career under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.
The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.
But the challenger found success, landing some telling individual punches in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.
The officials scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.
"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.
The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.
Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.
The Champion Claims Win in Dull Encounter
His career development has plateaued in recent years through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.
Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.
He started carefully, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.
The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a solid defense to edge the more effective rounds.
The audience's tolerance wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.
The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.
Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.
Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Contest
In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to secure the continental belt.
The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as 10 bells sounded in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the silence transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition during the bout matched the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising appearing under his face as the pair landed powerful shots.
Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over the full distance.
Arthur edged the result with judges scorecards of draw, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their idol Hatton embodied.
